Chile reaffirms ICC membership despite U.S. pressure

Chilean Foreign Minister Francisco Pérez Mackenna has reaffirmed the country's membership in the International Criminal Court (ICC), despite pressure from the United States to withdraw from the organization. Speaking from La Moneda Palace, Pérez Mackenna stated, “We are members of the International Criminal Court, and without prejudice to the fact that all organisms can be perfectible and improvable, we remain members of the ICC.”

The decision follows a request made by U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth during a meeting in Panama with members of the Coalition against the Cartels of the Americas (A3C). Hegseth urged member nations to abandon the ICC to protect national sovereignty. The A3C, also known as the Shield of the Americas, was established by President Donald Trump to coordinate regional efforts against organized crime and drug trafficking.

Chilean Defense Minister Fernando Barros also addressed the tension, asserting that Chile is not the “backyard” of any other nation. Domestic political reactions have been mixed, with some legislators criticizing U.S. expansionism and others emphasizing the importance of maintaining national dignity and sovereignty in the face of increasing external pressures.